We’d like to hear your thoughts on the addition to
the Policy of a rates deferral for Porirua City businesses in response to the Covid-19
pandemic

We are looking to
introduce an addition to our existing Rates Remission and Postponement Policy
to allow for a commercial rates deferral in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This proposal recognises Porirua City’s strong and vibrant business sector and
the importance of it as a whole to the residents and ratepayers of Porirua City.

The amendment details
the proposed changes to Porirua City Council’s (the Council) Rates Remission
and Postponement Policy and would allow eligible ratepayers to apply for a
postponement by deferring the 2020/21 rates payments to recognise the financial
impacts on the sector as a whole that have resulted from Covid-19.

If you don’t have access to a computer, please call our contact centre on 04 237 5089 to request that a hardcopy be posted out to you

During Alert Level 3 lockdown we will be accepting submissions by phone. Please call our contact centre on 04 237 5089 and ask to be put through to the Democratic Services team to record your feedback

Returning to normal operations – lower alert levels

Once we return to our normal operating hours and services you can find copies of this proposal at all Porirua City libraries, and at our front counter at Customer Services, Ground Floor, 16 Cobham Court, Porirua City 5022.

Please include your name and contact details and let us know if you would like to attend a hearing to speak in support of your submission (so that we can allocate you a speaking time).

Frequently Asked Questions

Covid-19 has impacted significantly
on all sectors within the Porirua community. Operating in a lockdown
environment has seen most businesses either closed or with significant
financial challenges. It is clear that the economy over the next 24 months will
be challenging for all with flow-on effects into our community.

The Council would like the business
sector to recover as quickly as possible because a vibrant and strong business
community creates employment and other benefits for all residents in Porirua
City. The Council recognises that the economics over the next 12 months will be
challenging for all, with particular stresses on our business sectors.

The rates burden will come just when
they are looking to rebuild their business revenues from what, for most, will
be a non-trading position as a result of the lockdown.

For Porirua
it is critical that the business sector recovers as quickly as possible. If the
business sector shrinks, its overall capital value will reduce, and it is
inevitable that a greater share of the rate burden will shift to the
residential and rural sectors. This would mean larger rates increases for
residential and rural ratepayers, as happened with the last two revaluation
cycles.

The
Council’s recovery plan covers both the economy and community welfare and
wellbeing and a draft is being prepared and will be presented to the Council in
May. The Council is actively working on a number of fronts with the business
sector as part of this. The proposed commercial rates deferral for 2020/21 is
one of a broader suite of initiatives being explored, developed or implemented
as part of this.

Council
has been working with individual ratepayers on payment options to assist those
in financial hardship and encourages anyone who is struggling to pay their
rates to contact us to see how we can help.

In
addition, through the Emergency Operations Centre which has been activated
throughout the Covid-19 response, Council has been proving welfare packs and
other assistance to our most vulnerable communities and those without support
networks.

As the
policy is user pays and self-contained there is no impact on any other ratepayers, including businesses
who choose not to take advantage of the rates deferral. The businesses that are
eligible and do apply will have their rates postponed for the financial year
beginning 1 July 2020/21 elect to will be expected to repay the full rates
amount over the subsequent three years to 2023/24. This would include
associated interest costs and a one-off administrative charge.

For those who elect into the scheme, a charge
will be placed over the title of the rating unit to ensure full payment is
received and no burden is placed on residential or rural ratepayers.

As the business
sector provides the backbone for economic stimulus and employs many people
within the community this proposal aims to provide support where it is needed
most. Most
are experiencing a customer and revenue collapse while their fixed costs remain
the same. Revenue streams will take some time to return to pre-Covid-19 levels
and a number of businesses may not survive.

It’s not possible to defer rates for all ratepayers as this income is essential
to keep our city running. We are looking at how we can contain costs where
possible, while still supporting essential services and critical infrastructure
investment.

The
proposal aims to support our local economy and the livelihoods of our people
and those who choose to work here. There is an expectation that business owners
who take advantage of the deferral will pass this relief onto tenants to ensure
employers and employees remain in work in our community. This proposal will aid
somewhat in our recovery and ultimately limit hardship the city faces

The proposed
commercial rates deferral is open to all business sector rating units. This includes 13 Business, 15 Motels, and
16 Shopping Plazas . For more information on the
different sectors you can view our funding impact statement here.

Those
ratepayers that own or pay the rates on commercial property can be immediate
beneficiaries of this scheme. In those cases where the landlord pays rates
directly we are hoping to create more leniency between the landlord and tenant
if there are business survival issues.

The current proposal only includes the
Porirua City Council’s rates. We are working with Greater Wellington Regional
Council (GWRC) on whether the rates deferral will include its 2020/21 rates. If
this is not achievable, businesses electing to defer the Council rates will
still be invoiced and expected to pay the GWRC rates every quarter – as is
presently the case.

This example outlines the relief provided to an individual rating unit who elects to defer 12 months of rates, 2020/21 rating year, and the timings of repayment over the proposal. A rating unit with a 2020/21 rate notice of $120,000 has been used as an example only.

Rate increases for the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years have been projected at 4.98%, 4.98% and 2.75% respectively as set out in Porirua City’s current Long Term Plan 2018-38. The LTP is required to be reviewed, updated and adopted by 30 June 2021 so these increases are subject to change.

This example outlines the relief provided to an individual rating unit who elects to defer 6 months of rates, 2020/21 rating year, and the timings of repayment over the proposal. A rating unit with a 2020/21 rate notice of $120,000 has been used as an example only.

Rate increases for the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years have been projected at 4.98%, 4.98% and 2.75% respectively as set out in Porirua City’s current Long Term Plan 2018-38. The LTP is required to be reviewed, updated and adopted by 30 June 2021 so these increases are subject to change.